Senate Document #18
Academic Policy Committee
Document #12
Proposal from Psychology to Drop PSYC 205 and 210 from the
Catalog.
I. Changes to be made in the catalog due to deletion of PSYC 205
and PSYC 210
A. In Psychology Department section
p. 170 Delete "36" from stated "36-37 hours" in description
of Track A, I. Required courses in the major
p. 170 Delete "PSYC 205" from list in Track A, I. Required
courses in major
p. 171 Replace "PSYC 205" with PSYC 217" in Psychology
Minor course list
p. 171 Delete listing and descriptions of "PSYC 205" and
"PSYC 210"
p. 172 Change second sentence in parenthetical statement to
read: "Replaces 205 as Psychology major requirement."
p. 172 Replace "205" with "217" in prerequisite list for
PSCY 220
p. 173 Replace "205" with "217" in prerequisite list for
PSYC 310 and 312
p. 173 Delete parenthetical statement "Students may not
earn credit for both 210 and 310" from description of PSYC 310
p. 174 Replace "205" with "217" in prerequisite list for
PSCY 314
p. 175 Replace "205" with "217" in prerequisite list for
PSYC 345 and 404
B. In Education Department Section
p. 120 Replace "205" with "217" in list of Psychology
courses required in Certification Program A, Early Childhood,
section II.
p. 103-5 Delete parenthetical statement "or 205 and 210"
from the list of Psychology courses in section II of the
following programs:
Certification B, Intermediate Certification (p. 103)
Certification C, Middle School Certification (p. 103)
Certification D, Secondary Certification (p. 104)
Certification F, Art Certification (p. 105)
Certification G, Theatre Arts Certification (p. 105)
II. Rationale for deletion of PSYC 205 and PSYC 210
PSYC 217 Human Development, is a survey of developmental
patterns from conception through adolescence. It includes a
laboratory component in which students apply their knowledge
of developmental patterns to the analysis of an individual
child. It was created as a "test course" in response to
several events: a desire to present a more integrated picture of
developmental change than is possible in a two course
sequence, a desire to involve Psychology students in
laboratory experiences, and a desire to reduce scheduling problems
for students seeking certification.
In its two year "test run", PSYC 217 has been remarkably
successful. Several excellent integrated textbooks are
available, and the laboratory manual, written by the
instructor, has been extensively "de-bugged" to provide a
stringent test of mastery of course material. It is the opinion
of the department that all Psychology students would benefit
more from this course than the two course sequence.
The change will benefit potential certification students as
well. Currently, all forms of certification require PSYC
217 with the exception of Program A, Early Childhood
Certification. Students who begin intending to seek only
this certification may enroll in PSYC 205, only to discover
they must then take PSYC 210 if they decide to seek
additional forms of certification. The change will bring
the Psychology requirements for Program A into line with
those for all other programs.
Finally, the change will reduce departmental dependence on
part-time faculty. Currently, Dr. Friedenberg is unable to
teach PSYC 212, Adult Development, because of the parallel
PSYC 217/PSYC 205 and 210 pattern. By elimination PSYC 205 and
210, Dr. Friedenberg will be able to teach one section of PSYC
212 each semester, reducing the need for part-time people to teach
sections of that course.